Ball practicing device



July 13, 1965 J. M. HOLLEY BALL PRACTICING DEVICE Filed Dec. 27, 1962 United States Patent 3,194,557 BALL PRACTICINQ DEVICE .l'ohn M. Holley, Tucker, Ga. (3547 Ernhry Circle, Chamhlee, Ga.) Filed Dec. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 247,571 3 Claims. ((Jl. 273-46) This invention relates to a ball practicing device, and, more particularly, to a device wherein a ball is suspended for contact with a club or bat, i.e., tether ball.

The inventive device finds utility in improving the eye of the user, whether used for amusement or skill. Devices of the general tether ball type have been known, but have uniformly suffered from the drawbacks of being complicated and causing the suspended ball to become tangled.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide a device which overcomes the aforesaid difficulties. More particularly, it is an objective of this invention to provide a device wherein a simple, yet extremely rugged, frame is provided that precludes the development of an entangled ball so that the device can be used in rapid succession by the same or different players. Here, it will be appreciated that where the device is to be employed for developing skill, the matter of the stance is very important, and therefore not having to change ones stance to untangle the string supporting the ball is of paramount importance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ball hitting device uniquely arranged for use with a variety of balls and wherein the change-over is effective with minimum labor.

Still another object is to provide a skill and amusement device of the character referred to, wherein an extremely rugged and simple frame is provided for ready installation or removal, as the case may be.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may be seen in the details of construction and operation set down in this specification.

The invention will be described in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective elevational view, partially in section, of the inventive device;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section, of a portion of the FIG. 1 device; and

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a modified form of attachment for the device of FIG. 1.

In the illustration given, and with particular reference to FIG. 1, the numeral designates generally the inventive device, which is seen to include a generally 7-shaped frame designated 11, made up of an angularly downwardly inclined tubular member 12 equipped with an elbow section 13. The frame 11 also includes telescoping post members 14 and 15. As shown in the drawing, the portion 13 is secured to the post portion 14 by means of a metal screw 16, and the telescoping posts 14.- and 15 are secured by yet another metal screw 17.

The post 15 is provided for removal mounting, and at its bottom portion is equipped with an integral, generally pointed end as at 16. Spaced upwardly from the pointed end 18, yet adjacent the bottom of post 15, is a circular flange or plate member 19 having integral therewith a depending annular flange portion 2%, the flange portion 2t) being beveled along its lower extremity as at 21 to facilitate insertion into the ground. In some instances, I prefer to flatten the lower portion of post 15 below the circular flange member 19 (as at 13) so as to facilitate the mounting of the device 1%.

At the unsupported end of the angularly downwardly inclined member 12, the device ill is equipped with a cap 3,14,557 Patented July 13,1965

element 22 (see FIG. 2). For this purpose, the unsupported end 23 of the inclined portion 12 is downwardly turned and thus is essentially parallel with the portion forming a U-shape 13. The portion 23 is exteriorly threaded as at 24 (see FIG. 2), and threade-dly receives the element 22. The element 22 is seen to be tubular and is equipped with an integral end closure as at 25. The enclosure 25 is equipped with a central aperture as at 26 in which a string or other flexible member 27 is mounted and secured therein as by a knot 28.

7 At its lower extremity, the string 27 is secured as by a pin or other securing device (not shown) to a baseball 29. Alternatively, other balls such as tennis balls may be similarly secured.

Reference to FIG. 3 reveals the type of support where a golf ball 129 is employed. There, a longer string or flexible member 127 is secured to the golf ball in wellirnown fashion, and terminates at its upper end in a knot or other enlargement as at 128.

In the operation of the device, the sectional posts 14 and R5 are first secured, after which the member 12 is connected to the post 14. The three-piece construction of the frame 11 facilitates breakdown for shipment or storage. Advantageously, the assembled posts 14 and 15 may be mounted in the ground merely by pushing down on the circular plate l9-the user standing on the same and making use of his own weight for ready installation.

By removing the cap element 22 from its threaded receipt on the downwardly-extending end portion 23 of the member 12, the upper end of the string 27 can be inserted through the hole 26. Thereafter, the knot 28 may be suitably developed and the device then is ready for use. In the use of the device, as, for example, as part of a baseball program, the ball is struck by a bat, whereupon, if the force is strong enough, the ball may fly upwardly and toward the posts 14 and 15. Should this occur, the uninterrupted upper portion of the member 12 terminating in the elbow portion 23 necessarily results in the string 27 sliding downwardly under the influence of gravity developed by the baseball 29 so as to return the ball to its normal position of equilibrium. For this purpose, best results are obtained when the angle between the upper portion 12 of the 7-shaped frame and the standard portion made up of posts 14 and 15 is of the order of Thereafter, the performance can be repeated as many times as desired. Here, it will be appreciated that the same procedure is followed relative to a golf ball.

While, in the foregoing specification, a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention has been set down for the purpose of explanation, many variations in the details herein given may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

ii. In ball practice apparatus, a generally 7-shaped frame including a vertical standard portion and a downwardly inclined arm portion, with the portions being interconnected at their upper ends with said arm portion forming an acute angle with said standard portion, means for securing the lower end of said standard portion in the ground, the lower end of said arm portion being equipped with a downwardly-extending part, a string secured to said part, and a ball secured to said string.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which the angle included between said arm portion and said standard portion is about 60.

3. Ball practice apparatus, comprising a frame, said frame including a vertical standard portion, a laterallyextending arm secured to the upper end of said portion and forming therewith an angle of about 60 whereby said arm is inclined downwardly in proceeding away from said vertical standard portion, said arm being equipped With a vertically-depending portion at the unsecured end thereof, said arm comprising a smoothsurfaced tubular element having a generally U shape to provide depending end portions a string releasably secured to one end portion with a ball fixed to said string, the other end portion of said arm being releasably secured to'said standard portion, said standard portion being equipped witha sharpened, flattened lower end to facilitate penetration into the ground for mounting of said frame, said standard portion adjacent said sharpened end being equipped with a circular plate having an annu- 4 lar depending flange, said flange being equipped with a sharpened edge to also facilitate penetration of the ground and thereby stabilize said frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,219,732 10/40 Armstrong 273-26 X FOREIGN PATENTS 374,404 4/23 Germany.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN BALL PRACTICE APPARATUS, A GENERALLY 7-SHAPED FRAME INCLUDING A VERTICAL STANDARD PORTION AND A DOWNWARDLY INCLINED ARM PORTION, WITH THE PORTIONS BEING INTERCONNECTED AT THEIR UPPER ENDS WITH SAID ARM PORTION FORMING AN ACUTE ANGLE WITH SAID STANDARD PORTION, MEANS FOR SECURING THE LOWER END OF SAID STANDARD PORTION IN THE GROUND, THE LOWER END OF SAID ARM PORTION BEING EQUIPPED WITH A DOWNWARDLY-EXTENDING PART, A STRING SECURED TO SAID PART, AND A BALL SECURED TO SAID STRING. 